Panthers ring up title share; big second half keeps Cowbell at MHS

   A 43-point second half gave the Monticello football team two big reasons to celebrate Oct. 7 at Anamosa.

   First, and most significantly, with the 52-24 triumph against their neighboring rivals, the Panthers (4-0, 5-2) clinched at least a share of the Class 2A, District 5 championship. A win over Northeast of Goose Lake this coming Friday at Dean Nelson Field would give MHS the outright title.

   Not to be overlooked, Monticello also kept the Cowbell Trophy for another season. The Panthers now lead the all-time series 58-37-5.

   It took an explosive second half for the Panthers to claim this victory, after a feisty Anamosa team played them tough in the first half. The Blue Raiders, in fact, held a 10-3 lead at one point and led 10-9 at halftime.

   But Monticello proved to be nearly unstoppable in the second half, scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter and three more in the fourth.

   “We played very hesitant in the first half,” Monticello coach Wes Wilson said. “Anamosa came out ready to play just like we knew they would.

   “We talked at halftime about relaxing and just playing our game. Our kids responded and got things rolling in the second half.”

   Quarterback Preston Ries had an outstanding game in a season of outstanding games, passing for 331 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for 203 yards and two more scores.

   “Preston is an unbelievable athlete and competitor,” Wilson said. “He wanted the ball in his hands to get us going. He is unique in that he is one of the best runners and throwers in the state. He has the ability to change the game on both sides of the ball.”

   It was a throw-out-the-record-books kind of first half, however, with the Blue Raiders, who came into the game 1-5 on the season, frustrating their visitors.

   Neither team scored in the first quarter; Monticello was stopped on downs at the Anamosa 2-yard line in the closing seconds of the period.

   Anamosa then executed a 98-yard drive for the game’s first score, a 14-yard pass from Devin Brophy to Aiden Strube. The two connected on a 59-yard play earlier in the drive.

   Monticello drove to the Raider 6 on the next series before Christian Castillo kicked a 23-yard field goal to cut Anamosa’s lead to 7-3.

   Anamosa answered with a 26-yard field goal of its own to lead 10-3 with 1:41 left in the first half.

   The Panthers got closer late in the half, on a touchdown pass from Ries to Tate Petersen with 10.7 seconds left. Petersen made a highlight-reel catch in the back right corner of the end zone, reaching to snare the ball just before he went out of bounds.

   The extra point kick was blocked, allowing Anamosa to lead 10-9 at halftime.

   It all changed dramatically in the second half. Monticello scored on its first two possessions. The Panthers marched 81 yards in 13 plays, scoring on a 10-yard run by Ries around the left side, and a two-point conversion pass from Ries to Petersen.

   After an Anamosa three-and-out, the Panthers struck again, on a nine-yard run by Ries. A penalty forced Castillo to kick a 34-yard extra point, but he booted it through, the Monticello was suddenly ahead 24-10 with 4:40 left in the third quarter.

   Anamosa kept it interesting for a while. Angelo Cudahy intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 43 yards for a Raider score.

   Monticello answered with an 88-yard touchdown pass play, Ries to Easton Prull. Catching the ball at his own 40, Prull outsprinted a defender the rest of the way as the Panthers again gained a two-score lead, 32-17.

   The Blue Raiders scored early in the fourth quarter to cut the margin to eight, but the Panthers pulled away after that.

   Dylan Roher scored on a seven-yard run, and on the next possession Ries hit Petersen on a 36-yard touchdown pass, making it 45-24 with 5:32 to play.

   “Our offensive line did a great job in the second half,” coach Wilson said. “We struggled in the red zone in the first half, so it was great to see those guys come out in the second half and really take control.”

   Monticello scored once more, with Ries leaping to make a nine-yard scoring pass to Prull with 2:04 to play.

   Prull finished with four catches for 125 yards, and Petersen caught nine for 115. Roher had 88 rushing yards.

   Defensively, Gavin Fuhrmeister recovered an Anamosa fumble, and Cael Sampson made an interception on the game’s final play.

Northeast to visit

   The final game of the regular season will be Oct. 14 at Dean Nelson Field, when the Panthers take on the Northeast Rebels from Goose Lake. Northeast is 3-1 in district play, 4-3 overall, and could tie for the district title by beating Monticello. The Rebels lost to Camanche 42-41 Friday.

   “Northeast has a very talented quarterback,” Wilson said. “He has the ability to make plays with his arm and with his feet. They have been able to win some close games.”

Aug. 26

(at Anamosa)

Monti  0    9  23 20  – 52

Ana      0  10    7    7  – 24

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

     No scoring.

SECOND QUARTER

     Ana – Strube 14 pass from Brophy (Gearing kick), 9:42 remaining.

     Monti – Castillo 23 field goal, 5:56.

     Ana – Gearing 26 field goal, 1:41.

     Monti – Petersen 11 pass from Ries (kick blocked), 0:10.7.

THIRD QUARTER

     Monti – Ries 10 run (Petersen pass from Ries), 8:39.

     Monti – Ries 9 run (Castillo kick), 4:40.

     Ana – Cudahy 43 interception return (Gearing kick), 1:53.

     Monti – Prull 88 pass from Ries (Ries run), 0:57.6.

FOURTH QUARTER

     Ana – Scranton 2 pass from Brophy (Gearing kick), 10:09.

     Monti – Roher 7 run (Castillo kick), 6:59.

     Monti – Petersen 36 pass from Ries (kick wide), 5:32.

     Monti – Prull 9 pass from Ries (Castillo kick), 2:04.

TEAM STATISTICS

                                  Monti      Ana

First downs             24            11

Rushing yds.          299          64

Passing yds.           331         273

Comp.-att.-int.  22-30-1  17-31-1

Total yards             630         337

Fumbles lost            0             1

Penalties-yds.       9-90       10-77

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Rushing – Ries 29-203, Roher 19-88, Jordan 2-8.

     Passing – Ries 22-30-331-4-1.

     Receiving – Prull 4-125, Petersen 9-115, Guilford 3-33, Tallman 2-24, Roher 2-15, Sternhagen 1-14, Schilling 1-5.

     Interception – Sampson.

     Fumble recovery – Fuhrmeister.

     Tackles – Ries 6, Fuhrmeister 5.5, Roher 4.5, Petersen 4, Jordan 4, Sauser 3, Guilford 2.5, Monk 2.5, J. Luensman 2, Prull 1.5, Besler 1.5, Graves 1.5, Schilling 1, Sternhagen 1, Sampson 1, Husmann 1, Taylor 1, Etzel 0.5, Brokaw 0.5, Cox 0.5, Castillo 0.5.

     Sacks – Ries, Monk.

     Tackles-for-loss – Ries 2, Monk 1, Fuhrmeister 1, Roher 0.5, Graves 0.5.